Sunday October 4, 2026 / September 21, 2026
18th Sunday after Pentecost. Tone one.
Sunday after the Universal Elevation of the Precious and Life-Creating Cross of the Lord
Apodosis of the Exaltation of the Cross.
Apostle Quadratus of the Seventy (130).
Uncovering of the relics (1752) of St. Demetrius, metropolitan of Rostov (1709).
New Hieromartyrs Alexander, Alexis, Constantine, John priests (1918).
New Hieromartyr Mavrikius and with him Martyr Basil and Vladimir (1937).
New Hieromartyrs Valentin, Alexander, John, Andrew, Peter, John priests (1937).
New Hieromartyr Theophan (Tuliakov), metropolitan of Lipetsk and Belo-Russia (1937).
New Hieromartyr John priest (1938).
New Hieromartyr Basil priest (1942).
Venerable Daniel, abbot of Shugh Hill (Novgorod) (16th c.).
Venerable Joseph of Zaonikiev Monastery (Vologda) (1612).
Hieromartyr Hypatius, bishop of Ephesus, and his presbyter Andrew (730).
Sts. Isaacius and Meletius, bishops of Cyprus.
Martyr Eusebius of Phoenicia (2nd c.) and Martyr Priscus of Phrygia.
Martyrs Eusebius, Nestabus, Zeno, and Nestor the Confessor of Gaza (4th c.).
Venerable Jonah the Sabbaite (9th c.) (Greek).
Synaxis of All Saints of Uglich.
The Scripture Readings
John 20:1-10 (7th Matins Gospel)
1
Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
2
Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”
3
Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb.
4
So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first.
5
And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in.
6
Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there,
7
and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself.
8
Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed.
9
For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.
10
Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.
2 Corinthians 9:6-11
6
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
7
So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
8
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
9
As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”
10
Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,
11
while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
Matthew 18:23-35 (Gospel)
23
Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
24
And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
25
But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.
26
The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’
27
Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
28
But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’
29
So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’
30
And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.
31
So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.
32
Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.
33
‘Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’
34
And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
35
So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.
Hebrews 7:26-8:2 St. Demetrius
26
For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens;
27
who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.
28
For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.
1
Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,
2
a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.
John 10:9-16 St. Demetrius
9
I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
10
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
11
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
12
But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.
13
The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.
14
I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
15
As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
Galatians 2:16-20 Sunday after the Universal Elevation
16
knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
17
But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not!
18
For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
19
For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God.
20
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Mark 8:34-9:1 Sunday after the Universal Elevation
34
When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
35
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.
36
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
37
Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
38
For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.
1
And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.”